Anatomy of a deal

May 26, 1988
Gretzky and the Oilers win their fourth Stanley Cup in five years, sweeping the Boston Bruins in four straight games.

May 27, 1988
Gretzky learns about a possible trade to Vancouver. A group of Vancouver businessmen who are attempting to buy the Canucks had offered Oilers’ owner Peter Pocklington over $20 million for Gretzky.

August 4, 1988
The Los Angeles Times reports the ‘Gretzky-to-L.A.’ trade rumors. Both teams dismissed the trade speculation. Oilers’ GM Glen Sather told the Edmonton Journal: ''it's a rumor, leave it at that. These sort of things have been discussed for the last six years.”

An Edmonton press conference is called in the morning to announce the trade. Prior to the press conference, Sather pulls Gretzky aside to give him a chance to stop the trade, but a tearful Gretzky addressed a room full of more than 200 reporters before being unable to continue.

Gretzky and McNall return to Los Angeles for an evening press conference at the Sheraton Plaza La Reina – Gretzky dons the Kings jersey, complete with the silver 99, for the first time.